COVID-19 RELIEF MISSION

I Am Abel Foundation is proud to stand strong in service to the Chicagoland community during the COVID-19 Crises. Our Mentors, Mentees and volunteers are working hard together to provide desperately needed relief. I Am Abel Foundation has 3 very active campaigns to serve the community

Homeless men, women and children on the Southside of Chicago are likely the most marginalized population in all of Chicago. The COVID-19 pandemic has delivered a horrible blow to this population that is positioned in Cook County and that currently has more cases than any other county in the entire country. We are excited that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois has partnered with I AM ABEL FOUNDATION in support of our project Southside Hope for the Homeless. In this project we are helping facilitate COVID-19 testing and case management. We are also providing COVID CARE packages as well as education and professional consultation for both homeless residents and the professional staff caring for them. We are pleased to welcome our COVID Relief project managers, Revita Prowell, Cornelius Conway and Orrianne Morrison.

Our Supper and Soul Campaign delivers delicious soul food to frontline workers all over the city providing them a much needed "Supper and Soul Heroes Lunchbreak." We have partnered with Priscilla's Ultimate Soulfood Cafeteria to bring full course meals to our heroes, many of whom are Physician Mentors serving in our programs. Each Wednesday through Friday, we visit a Chicago area hospital for a noon time treat. If you would like us to stop by your hospital

By now, all of us have experienced the pain of COVID-19 as it has taken loved ones or people that we once knew. It has also changed our lives as we've known it and it won't likely go back to being the same. The good news is we now have an opportunity to make things better. Together we can create a better healthcare system where there is more representation for those who are most vulnerable and where our healthcare providers can finally have a voice. If ever there's a silver lining it would be this: trying times inspire innovation. Many of us have identified unexpected talents. We are using our creative minds along with our hands to make life better for others.

We know that if there is to be a solution, it will come from the community. With that being said, I AM ABEL FOUNDATION has endeavored to empower our Healthcare Heroes with the equipment they desperately need. Since it's not available, we're going to make it!

Kudos to Marisa Arakawa and Sam Ogunbode. They are two of our Student Affiliate Mentees who have pledged to lead the campaign to create up to 5000 face shields for our healthcare team in the trenches. Dena Beaty, I AM ABEL FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBER and event planner will provide technical project management while our mentees manage the logistical and administrative tasks. We are incredibly thankful for their leadership and getting these face shields into the hands of our healthcare heroes